Strawberries

Strawberry cultivars were developed at Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) via traditional breeding techniques by Rutgers professor emeritus Gojko Jelenkovic. For over 35 years, Jelenkovic worked on improving strawberry yield, resistance to diseases, and most importantly, fruit quality and flavor. This work was followed by extensive testing of strawberry selections by agriculture and natural resource agents Bill Hlubik and Peter Nitzsche in field trials at NJAES, observational trials at conventional and organic farms, and flavor evaluations by consumer taste panels. The mission of the strawberry breeding program is to increase production efficiency and protect fruit crops against environmental and biological hazards, while decreasing production costs and pesticide use. Rutgers-bred strawberries are designed to be well-suited for New Jersey’s variable climate and are becoming a popular crop for local farms.

Rutgers strawberry breading with Professor Emeritus Gojiko Jelenkovic

Whole and cut open strawberries — Rutgers D'Light strawberry

A strawberry with a green background — Rutgers D'Light strawberry

Rutgers strawberry — Rutgers Scarlet strawberry

Strawberry trials are conducted at several Rutgers locations, including on-campus greenhouse facilities and off-campus research and extension centers. As a result of this work, two new strawberry cultivars, Rutgers Scarlet™ (‘NJ99–204-1’, Patent # PP 27,587) and Rutgers D’Light (‘NJ09-2-1’, Patent # PP 33,784) were released. These new cultivars have the potential to increase strawberry production of Eastern U.S. growers, especially of local farms with direct markets. Consumers will benefit from the availability of high-quality fruit. For more about the flavor and distinct characteristics of the new Rutgers D’Light – released in 2022, read more at: Bred for Flavor, NJAES Researchers Release New Rutgers D’Light Strawberry : Newsroom.

Rutgers D’Light is a plant patented variety licensed to Indiana Berry & Plant Co. Gardeners and farmers interested in Rutgers D’Light plants can order them for Spring 2022: Bare Root Strawberry Plants | Blueberry Plants for Sale | Indiana Berry – Plymouth, IN.

While this first year of release offers availability of strawberry plants for home gardeners and commercial growers alike, berry lovers will have to wait until next year to experience the “D’lights” of the fruit, i.e., this year’s plants will bear fruit next year.

For residents looking to purchase fruit from local farms, they can find Jersey strawberries in season mid-May through mid-June. Asking your local grower about Rutgers D’light plantings this year will ensure obtaining them next year. Find farm markets and pick-your-own strawberries at Discover New Jersey’s Freshest: Map – Find Jersey Fresh.

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